The special force under the General Customs Department has discovered that a business attempted to import a BMW car that had been disassembled into parts while declaring that the shipment was power generators from China.

According to an officer, the HL Co Ltd stated in the customs declaration at Hai Phong Port that its import shipment consists of four used Chinese generators.

But an unexpected check by the department found that behind the four machines in the container were separate parts, including the front, rear and engine of a used BMW 645CI.

These parts can be reassembled into an almost complete car, officers said. The disassembled car was confiscated and the parts were inspected. It is estimated that they cost some VND986 million.

Customs agencies said illegally importing used cars and parts into Vietnam is not a new phenomenon, but this is quite a sophisticated new trick, they added.

The dishonest importer has taken advantage of the online customs clearance procedure, officers said.

Specifically, importers that have never violated any customs regulations will be subject to the green channel when completing the e-customs procedure. In this channel, businesses are exempt from inspections of their imported goods.

Meanwhile, those subject to the yellow channel will also have to submit their import dossiers for checks, though their imports will also not be inspected.

The HL Co. is qualified to import in the yellow channel.

Spare parts for sale?

A customs officer told Tuoi Tre that it is likely that several other parts of the car are hidden in the next import shipments of the company, so that it can reassemble them into a complete used BMW.

This is to avoid the complex procedures and a number of requirements necessary to import a used vehicle as per current rules, he explained.

Another possibility is that the company attempted to smuggle the used car spare parts, which are currently banned from imports.

This speculation is backed by car sellers, who said used parts of several models of high-class sedans are being sought after in Vietnam.

Owners of used cars are willing to buy used parts as new, authentic parts are very expensive.

The owner of a used Mercedes - Benz C180 sedan manufactured in 2003 said he prefers to buy old parts, as they cost only half as much as new ones.

Meanwhile, there is little likelihood that the car will be reassembled for use.

“Technically speaking, the illegally imported parts can be reassembled into a complete car, but no one will dare to drive it out of safety issues,” said a Vietnamese representative of a high-class automaker.